Ragini Lal
Sacramento,CA
Summary
Compassionate and collaborative AMFT and APCC with inclusive experience in individual. family, couple, and group therapy. Utilizes client-centered, trauma-informed, and tailored therapeutic techniques to address diverse mental health issues. Therapeutic goals are to foster client growth, resilience, and overall well-being. Skilled in active listening, conflict resolution, empathy-driven sessions, and effective communication. Valued for natural ability to connect with others, empathetic support, and reliable, eager to grow in the field.
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Student Counseling Intern
The Whole Soul Counseling
08.2024 - 08.2025
- Conducted individual and group therapy sessions with clients presenting a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, trauma, relational issues, identity issues, and academic stress, utilizing evidence-based interventions such as CBT, DBT, ACT, psychodynamic, play therapy, and mindfulness-based techniques.
- Provided crisis intervention and risk assessments, including suicide and self-harm assessments, safety planning, and referrals for higher levels of care when necessary.
- Developed personalized treatment plans in collaboration with clients, integrating their goals, strengths, and cultural backgrounds to ensure a client-centered approach.
- Maintained detailed case notes and clinical documentation in compliance with HIPAA and ethical guidelines, ensuring accuracy and confidentiality.
- Participated in weekly supervision meetings, receiving, and integrating feedback to enhance clinical skills, self-awareness, and professional development, collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to provide holistic support.
- Conducted intake interviews and assessments, gathering client history, identifying presenting concerns, and establishing rapport to foster a safe and trusting therapeutic environment.
- Provided referrals and resources to clients, connecting them with community mental health services, support groups, and wellness programs as needed.
Program Therapist/ Counseling Trainee
Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight
06.2023 - 05.2025
- Facilitated therapeutic groups based on structured core curriculums for DBT, CBT, ACT, RO-DBT, and other skills-based groups for up to 10 patients per milieu with lived experience in Eating, Mood, Trauma, and Anxiety disorders.
- Provided milieu management, de-escalation, crisis management, and behavior coaching to patients in PHP programs through groups, meals, patient check-ins, and observations.
- Conducted self-harm, suicide safety, and risk assessments and supported building safety and cope-ahead plans.
- Documented skill-based groups, observations, meal completions, and patient assessments.
- Supported morning routine such as collecting weights, vitals, and urine samples when needed.
Director of Workforce and Community Engagement
National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) California
06.2019 - 11.2022
- Lead oversight of multiple programs with populations impacted by mental illness including diverse communities and families through community engagement, program implementation, and advocacy including holding training and large events through state and federal funders (i.e.: MHSOAC, CALMHSA, FEMA, OSHPD/ HCAI, DHCS, DHS, SAMHSA).
- Conducted and lead qualitative and quantitative data collection, research development, and evaluation/analysis for diverse communities, family members and caregivers, and crisis continuum of care including suicide and crisis prevention and intervention.
- Created, implemented, and oversaw budget allocations, reporting, and contract developments with community-based organizations.
- Supervised a diverse staff through a trauma-informed, peer-informed, and anti-racist lens in order to increase quality workforce and equitable standardization.
Peer Crisis Counselor
California Youth Crisis Line
07.2017 - 03.2020
- Provided one-on-one counseling for up to a caseload of 30+ a day by phone, chat, and email for crisis situations.
- Assessed clients suicide risk and crisis calling and supported development of a safety plan and next steps in collaboration with the client to provide accessible resources utilizing multiple tools and databases.
- Utilized clinical mental health counseling skills to construct a working alliance with clients and document necessary demographic and risk factors on a secure database.
- Provided supervision to incoming interns and participated in training, company projects, and meetings.
Behavior Therapist
Genesis Behavior Center
07.2017 - 01.2019
- Implemented one-on-one Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy for up to 25+ caseloads with children (ages 1-12) and Transitional Age Youth (TAY- ages 13-24) with lived experience in Autism and related disorders while supporting client in home and school setting.
- Administered positive behavior coaching in order to reduce problematic behaviors per case.
- Trained communication, social, and self-help skills to clients based on assessed needs per case.
- Evaluated behavior assessments and entered accurate quantitative data into individualized case files.
Education
Master of Science - Marriage, Family, And Children Counseling
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN08.2025
Master of Science - Mental Health Clinical Counseling
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN08.2025
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
California State University in Sacramento
Sacramento, CA05.2019
Skills
- Individual, Family, Couple, and Group Counseling
- Neurodivergent and Behavioral Counseling
- LGBTQ Counseling
- Trauma-Informed approaches
- Electronic Health Record Case Documentation
- Evidence-Based Practices- CBT, DBT, ACT, EFT, EFFT, CPT, Motivational Interviewing, Psychodynamic, Mindfulness Techniques, Somatic Interventions
- Crisis and Risk Assessment
- DSM-5 Assessment and Diagnosis
- Multicultural competence
- Clinical assessment
- Treatment Planning
- HIPAA compliance
- Research and Report Writing
- Peer Supervision
- Research Evaluation and Data Collection
- Microsoft Office Suite-Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Notes, Outlook
- Google Suite- Docs, Sheets, Slides, Forms, Keep, Sites, Smartsheet,
- Graphic Design- Canva, Adobe
- Data Collection- Spruce, Simple Practice, NOVA, SPSS, MS Office- Excel, SurveyMonkey, Mentimeter, PollEverywhere, DoodlePoll
- Virtual and Social Platforms- Zoom, GoToWebinar, Adobe Connect, Skype, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Eventbrite
Certification
- Peer and Family Support Specialist (2022)
- Mental Health 101 State Trainer, Lead, and Presenter (2021)
- Psychological First Aide (2019)
- Cultural and Linguistic Responsiveness and Competence (2019)
- Trauma-Informed Care (2019)
- Mental Health Aide (Youth and Adult 2018)
Languages
Hindi
Urdu
Punjabi
Timeline
Student Counseling Intern
The Whole Soul Counseling
08.2024 - 08.2025
Program Therapist/ Counseling Trainee
Eating Recovery Center and Pathlight
06.2023 - 05.2025
Director of Workforce and Community Engagement
National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) California
06.2019 - 11.2022
Peer Crisis Counselor
California Youth Crisis Line
07.2017 - 03.2020
Behavior Therapist
Genesis Behavior Center
07.2017 - 01.2019
Bachelor of Arts - Psychology
California State University in Sacramento
Master of Science - Marriage, Family, And Children Counseling
Walden University
Master of Science - Mental Health Clinical Counseling
Walden University
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